Disintegration Of Syrian Orthodox Church in Syria and India

Last phase of the disintegration of Syrian Orthodox Church ( which is headed by Zacha I Patrirch)is happening now.It is the smallest group among the Church in Middle east headed by a prlate designated as Patriarch of Antioch(There are 5 such prelates who claim the title Patriarch of Antioch).There has been rumblings within that Church over racial and other issues.But the present crisis is unprecedented.On the one side the ongoing civil war in Syria makes their lives miserable. On the other side internal issues of the church is tormenting them.The Church is run by the funds provided by expatriates who are distributed over Eaurope,US and other parts of the world.But they are treated as milking cows whose only job is to provide funds at the beck and call of Demascus. However a stage has come where the Prelate is forced to flee from H.H's Headqurters at Demascus and seek assylum in Germany ,said to be for medical treatment.A few years back the same prelate had sought and obtained a Visa giving reason as Ayurvedic treatment,but had done everything while in india other than anything remotely connected to Ayurvedic treatment.

 The last bastion of Syrian Orthodox Church in India is also crumbling.Unlike in Syria,they have very strong political backing.There has been photographs of Kerala Chief Minister,Home Minster etc taking humble servile postures before the Bishops of Puthan Cruz Society.But their problems are different.One of their Bishops have levelled very serious allegations about the society leadership.It includes taking bribes for ordaining of Bishops,Non publication accounts for Church funds,Murder attempt on the Bishop,Poisoning incident that took place inPatriarchal Centre in Puthan Cruz,so on and so forth.It is rumoured that about half the Bishops in their faction favour Bishop Clemese who came out with these revelations.Most of the allegations raised by Bishop Clemese was in the grapevine for long.No one in that sect had the guts to air it in public.Finally Bishop Clemese and some of the Laymen have openly come out with revelations that have sent shock waves not only within that Church,but across the general public.

Hudaya Canon explicitly states that if anyone secures the Priestly orders on giving bribes,he and the Prelate who ordained him should be expelled from the Church.Here Bishop Clemese states that he paid 3 crores.Bishop Joseph Mar Gregoriose,Secretary of the Synod states that only 3 lakhs have been recieved.What is in dispuite is only the amont involed-two zeros in the figures of 3 cr and 3 lakhs.Fact that money changed hands as a precondition to ordination is established.

Bishop Mar Clemese is from Thukalan family which was with the Patrirchal faction and has provided that faction leadership.There are many such ardent devotees of the Patriarch who are suffocated in the present regime. Many of the families whic were leading lights in pro Antioch faction in yester years got disillutioned and either switched sides or withdrew from the activities.Palampadam,Konattu,Akkara are some of those families.The laymen leaders at present are of a different quality and virtual yesmen to Thomas I Mafriana.A number of faithfuls of the patriarch of antioch are nursing a feeling of despire.The present devolopements could be the last straw on the Camal's back for many of them.